Belt-fastener



UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN HOGAN, on SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

BELT-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part a Letters Patent No. 259,015, dated June 6, 1882.

- Application filed April 1, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN HOGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Belt-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and improved belt-fastener of the class designated as belthooks; and it consists of a longitudinal connectingbar, with ends having knife-edges formed at right angles, or nearly so, to the bar.

The object of my invention is toprovide a cheap, durable, and firm belt-fastener, which can be easily and quickly applied by being driven through the fabric and clinched or riveted without using a punch or cutter to slit or puncture the ends of the belt, which is rendered necessary where hooks with curved points or straight fasteners with blunt ends are employed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my improvedfastener. Fig.

' 2 are sections of belt joined together with my improved fastener. Fig. 3 represents sections of a large or heavy belt connected with two rows of fasteners alternately longerand shorter.

Fig. 4 shows the underside of a section of belt with one end of the fasteners inserted and clinched. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5 5, Fig. 3.

The belt fastener may be constructed of wrought or malleable cast metal, but preferably of wrought metal cut from a straight bar, and compressed or swaged at its angles and points, and bent into its angular shape with (lies and stamps suitably formed for that purpose. The length and weight of the bar A and the points B B should be proportionate to the size of the belt and the strength required. 0 is a shoulder formed by recessing the point to adapt itto bend at that portion to its horizontal position parallel with the body of the fastener. D D are straight knife-edges on the points B E. Additional security may be obtained for large belts or those subjected to a great strain by using alternately longer and shorter fasteners, thus forming a double row of points at both ends of the belt.

The following are among the advantages of my improved belt-fastener:

First. Where it is employed the weakening of the belt by the removal of any portion of it with a punch or cutter is obviated.

Second. By its use the labor of connecting the ends of belt is greatly simplified and facilitated, and the delay and expense incident to the use of instruments for puncturing or slitting the fabric dispensed with.

Third. Two or more rows of fasteners, alternately longer and shorter, may be simply and easily applied and greater strength obtained thereby, whereas where books with curved ends or points are employed more than one length cannot be used with facility.

The shoulders 0 being left on the points, the portion of the hook on which the strain is brought is not weakened. The inturned knife-edges D D are flush at their outer ends with but not pressed into the material.

I am aware that metal plates with sharp penetrating-points are used in connectingbelts; but such plates make the joints rigid and inflexible, the edges of the plates frequently cut into the material, weakening it and cause it to separate, and from the unpliable nature of said platefasteners, when used on cross-belts or from contact with a tightening-pulley, they are liable to become loose and detached from their hold on the belt.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

The belt-fastener A, formed with points B B, having shoulders O O and straight knifeedges D D, as set forth.

BENJAMIN HOGAN. 

